MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Yoopers United Hockey Team and the United Way of Marquette County are excited to announce that former Marquette Iron Ranger and retired NHL forward, best known for helping Paul Newman earn his first Oscar winning performance for their real world antics from their time in the United State Hockey League with Marquette and the Johnstown Jets of the North American Hockey League, Steve Carlson of the infamous Slap Shot Hanson Brothers will be lacing up the skates for their game against the Red Wings Alumni Association.
Carlson, 68, and his wife, Vicki, will be making their way north this September to join the Yoopers United team and help raise funds for our local community.
Carlson appeared in 66 games for Marquette, recording 34 goals and 53 assists for 87 points in his only season with the Iron rangers before heading to Johnstown where he helped the Jets win the championship in ‘75. Carlson would go on to have a long professional career spanning 14 seasons, including 5 seasons in the World Hockey Association and 1 season with the LA Kings in the NHL. Carlson, who was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) in 2021, was able to put on the foil to beat his cancer this year.
One of the many organizations that the United Way of Marquette County supports is Cancer Care of Marquette County. They will be hosting a Showing of Slap Shot at Blackrocks Brewery on Third Street of September 14, 2024 at 5:30pm to celebrate Carlson’s remission.
Team liaison for the Yooper’s United Nickolas Boyle says, “We are excited to have local legend Steve Carlson join us for a weekend to celebrate Marquette Hockey and raise money for the United Way. Steve is well known for his time with the Iron Rangers and the Chiefs. We are looking forward to welcoming him back to Marquette for the weekend. We are excited to welcome him back to the community to celebrate hockey and his personal success. I personally cannot wait to get on the ice with Steve and skate with him. The Wings won’t know what to do once the foil hits the ice.”
“This is great to bring back some Marquette Hockey talent for this community fundraiser,” stated Andrew Rickauer of the United Way of Marquette County. “Steve’s participation is sure to help draw a crowd, provide some great entertainment and ultimately raise some much needed funds to help our community residents.” Steve Carlson said this about returning, “Coming back to Marquette is going to be very special, it’s where my career started, playing in one of the oldest arenas at that time, with a bunch of guys to help me develop my skills, not to mention the single prop planes we sometimes traveled on. So much looking forward to coming back, to give back is special.”
The Marquette County Hockey Night will take place on Friday September 13 at 3:30 p.m. with a block party at the Berry Events Center. Red Carpet Player Entrance to follow, with a Sled Hockey Game and the Red Wings Alumni game dropping at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the events are $25/adult and $15/youth 12 and under are available through NMU’s ticketing website.
